Fed Cup: Sania Mirza-led Indian team to remain in Group II after losing to Hong Kong

Updated: 07 February 2014 21:26 IST

The 1-2 defeat was India's first against Hong Kong in five meetings and it has ended the country's hopes to get promoted to Group I for next year's competition.

Written by Press Trust of India

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Astana, Kazakhstan:

Prarthana Thombare and Ankita Raina today lost their singles matches as India suffered their first ever defeat at the hands of Hong Kong to remain in Group II in the Asia/Oceania competition in Fed Cup.

The 1-2 defeat was India's first against Hong Kong in five meetings and it has ended the country's hopes to get promoted to Group I for next year's competition.

404th ranked Prarthana, who had so far won all her matches, lost 2-6 1-6 to unranked Eudice Chong in the first singles match.

The onus to bring India back was on the country's number one singles player Ankita Raina but she lost 4-6 3-6 to Liang Ling Zhang, placed 88 places below the Indian in the WTA rankings.